Introduction: What is plain language?.........................................5The Benefits of Plain Language....................................................5What to Expect Here.....................................................................7Part 1 Writing as a Communication Process...............................8Legalese and Gobbledygook..........................................................8The Writing Process....................................................................10Revision and Reorganization.......................................................10Chapter One Plan, Research, and Prepare................................12Ponder and Research...................................................................12Prepare and Plan.........................................................................13 A Writing Strategy for Tight Deadlines.....................................18Chapter Two Tailor the Writing to the Reader.........................20Identify the Audiences.................................................................20Legal Writing and Client Literacy..............................................23Chapter Three Organize Both Content and Structure..............25Document Logic...........................................................................25Perspective...................................................................................26Outlining as an Organizer...........................................................27Logical Sequence..........................................................................28Conscious Structure.....................................................................29Chapter Four Edit, Peer-edit, and Test.....................................32Editing Other Writers.................................................................32The Last Check............................................................................34 A Caution on Precedents.............................................................35